Samsung risks losing billions in legal turmoil

Samsung Electronics has been served two legal blows after imaging giant Kodak and flash memory chipmaker Spansion filed separate lawsuits claiming patent infringement.

In a forceful stance, Spansion is seeking to exclude more than a 100 million MP3 players, cellphones, digital cameras and other consumer electronic devices that contain Samsung’s infringing flash memory components from the US market.

“The complaint in the US District Court in Delaware also seeks an injunction and treble damages for patent violations relating to Samsung Flash memory, that Spansion estimates has accounted for more than $30 billion in Samsung's global revenues since 2003,” elaborated Spansion in a company statement.

Spansion is prepared for a tough battle with Robert Melendres, executive vice president and general counsel, revealing that it will "vigorously protect its intellectual property and is entitled to be compensated by Samsung for its use of our IP."

In another lawsuit, Eastman Kodak Co. is seeking ‘unspecified damages’ from both Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics for alleged infringement of its digital camera patents. Kodak is also hoping to get a legal injunction to prevent further sales of the products involved.

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